Top 10 Influential Movies List!

By -
Compiling a list of 10 movies which you have to watch before you leave this planet! Most of the movies you might have already watched, but if you haven’t- hit your torrent or your jugaadu friend for the movies soon! It was difficult for me to come up with a pecking order, so this is roughly in the sequence of influence.

Criteria: Released after I was born & have seen it, discussed it, wikied and IMDBed it!

o   The Prestige IMDB 8.5

I call it the best of the Nolan movies. Many critics find the plot predictable, but I could not. The movie is a superb mystery thriller with a hint of science fiction. The quotes and dialogues are intriguing and worth remembering. The climax is something which gets full marks.

o   Natarang  IMDB 8.4

I saw this Marathi movie in theatre. Atul Kulkarni’s portrayal of Guna, has to be one of the finest roles enacted by any Indian actor. The story is a legend in itself, coupled with Ajay-Atul’s masterstroke music which stays with you for a long time after the movie. Natarang is a much watch for those who are able to appreciate Marathi culture.

o   V for Vendetta IMDB 8.2

Simply the best cult movie I have seen. Set on a dystopian setting, the storyline, portrayal of characters and the narration makes it a perfect cult. Bonus points on the dialogues, just makes the movie desirable to watch again. Bonus is you have Natalie Portman and my favourite actor behind the famous mask. Remember, remember the 5th of November. 

o   Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind IMDB 8.3

Very few movies can mix genres of Rom-Com with Sci-Fi; but this movie has done it brilliantly! Mind boggling yet smooth, touches both your heart and your brain. Makes you think, love, wonder and confuses you, all at the same time. In short a beautiful movie, and I wish what has been depicted becomes a reality one day ;-)


o   LOTR Series IMDB 8.8

Surprisingly I dozed off in my earlier two attempts at watching this movie. But on my third I binged on the entire series at a go! Watch this series as it glues you to your seat, makes you extol the grandeur and magnificence dedicated in this film. I don’t think such a series will be produced in another couple of generations to come

o   Primer IMDB 7

Lasting for 79 minutes, directed with a budget of $7k; you have a master class. Not revealing the theme of the movie, but this movie beats its million dollar counterparts in the much debated and much worked upon sci-fi theme. This movie made me read its Wikipedia article, without which it is almost impossible to understand what the movie is about. This movie deserves a much better rating on IMDB; an inspiration for all budding producers and future directors!

o   Requiem for a dream IMDB 8.4

This movie leaves you with a fatal aftershock. With an absolutely brilliant sound score, lethal portrayal of characters and a solid theme makes this movie one of the most influential movies made. Its power is such that if seen by its target audience, the movie has the potential to make the world a better place to live in! Surprisingly it did not get any Academy Awards, which it truly deserved.





o   The Matrix IMDB 8.7

The magnum opus, I call it the Father of all films. It is based on a theme which absolutely changes your perception of reality, backed by action sequences which have redefined the standards of the film industry. The series transcends into the world of Matrix and you take some time to recover and come back to reality.  You will spend hours understanding the film and question your existence. Much ahead of the time, I don’t think any movie comes close to the Matrix till date.



o   Deool IMDB 8.2
Deool
This much coveted and awarded Marathi movie has the strongest influence on my thought process. With multiple national awards, it will not be an overstatement if I call this movie one of the finest Indian movies ever produced. With a strong storyline, brilliant narration, hard hitting dialogues and a flawless portrayal, this movie is textbookishly perfect in all senses. Coupled with an uncompromising and direct music, this movie is as close to reality as possible. Must watch even for those who cannot understand the language- it won three national awards including the best film & actor.  


o   La vita e bella (Life is Beautiful) IMDB 8.6

Simply the best movie I have watched till date. It is a movie of two halves, symbolizing a perfect dichotomy. Roberto Benigni’s portrayal has to be the finest I have ever seen in any movie. The name of the movie is a little confusing if you compare it with its story, but one thing is for sure- at the end of the movie you would only utter the three word- Life is beautiful.


Honourable mentions
  • One flew over cuckoo’s nest (a 1975 movie, the reason why it did not make in the top 10)
  • A Pursuit of Happiness (because Life is beautiful makes it to the top)
  • Vaastav (Hindi, cult legend)
  • Arrival (2016 movie, beats Interstellar in a one to one)
  • Schindler’s List (Life is beautiful beats it)
  • The Dark Knight Series (because Prestige)
  • Serendipity (only I wish this happened to me in real life)
  • Forrest Gump (only & only for Tom Hanks)
  • Saving Private Ryan (the best war movie ever made)
  • Inception & Interstellar (two legendary standalone movies)


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Secularism in India

By -
(Please note this article/thesis’ sanity remains constrained only in India and applicable only to Indians.) In India, an Indian is either a Hindu, or a Muslim, or a Christian, or a Jain or a Buddhist….. or a Secularist. And India is a Secular country. My title, ain’t so thought provoking. It’s simple, you cannot be or at least not claim to be, a Hindu/Muslim (etc.) and secularist at the same time. The word secular was interpolated in our constitution by an amendment in 1976. I remember saying this to one of my secular friend who chided me for using jargons like amendment and interpolation. To answer him I have to say that these are matchless words which best describe the situation. Amendment is a change made to the constitution by a parliamentary bill/order. Interpolation is an addition/append made to the constitutional literacy. It means the word secular wasn’t mentioned in the constitution by the constitution framers, dated back to late 40’s. My point of argument is th...
Read more

Welcome To Engineering....

By -
Image
SS: The following piece of writing is purely satirical and hypothetical. It does not resemble any person/object or situation in reality, any similarity to real life person/object should be taken as a pure co-incidence. Getting an over-head projector (OHP) in any normal college is one simple thing. Go and visit the staff room, and swap your ID card for the projector. Plug in the wires, adjust the focus and you are done. An excellent substitute for black-board notes, making lives of so many teachers across the globe easier. Not to forget the benefits of the same to the students who don’t have to burn their retinas in comprehending the caricatures, I mean diagrams, made by their teachers on the black-board. When it comes to an engineering college in MU, there is a twist in everything, right from the first day in the college. You are made to sign a self-imposed imposition; I mean the admission form of course, of ‘Imprisonment in the institution for 4 years or more for some special out-stan...
Read more

To be or not to be Walter Mitty

By -
Image
Short Stories have always inspired me to think and ponder on themes which I usually would never reason out. I must say, I was privileged to study a few short stories in one of the best schools in the country- which goes a long way in shaping who I am now. We had a Short Story in Xth ICSE Board named “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”, which was one of my favourites (along with The Lady and the Tiger & War)  For those who do not know what the story is about- it revolves around the protagonist of that name, who often day dreams of becoming someone who he cannot be in real life. He dreams of being a successful medical surgeon, a war pilot facing a firing brigade, a secret agent etc.….whereas in reality he is shown as a subservient persona and often dominated by his wife. Walter Mitty then teleports into his fantasy world where he undertakes roles of great valour and importance, only to be astonished by crude reality every time his fantasy ends.   The story or ...
Read more